NEWS: Baldwin Releases New Report on State of Reproductive Health in Wisconsin

WISCONSIN – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) released a new report on the dire state of reproductive health care in Wisconsin since the overturning of Roe v. Wade over two years ago. The report includes new findings on how many women were denied access to care, the impacts of those who were forced to travel out of state, and the ongoing barriers, like long drive times, that are continuing to limit access to health care. 

“For 15 months, Wisconsin women were denied the right to make their own health care decisions, endangering countless women’s health, lives, and future fertility. Sadly, women in Wisconsin are still feeling the pain and trouble of not having the full freedom to control their bodies, health, and families. This new report shows the dire impact that these abortion bans have on Wisconsin women – whether it is not being able to get the health care they need or being forced to spend time and money traveling out of state for basic care,” said Senator Baldwin. “Wisconsinites know firsthand that abortion care is health care, and I’m in this fight until every woman has the full freedom to control her body, family, and future.”

A full version of the report is available here, with key findings below:

• Safe Abortion Down 87% in 2023: Zero abortions took place in Wisconsin abortion clinics between July 2022 and September 2023. Only 880 clinician-provided abortions took place in Wisconsin in 2023, the first full year after Roe v. Wade fell – an 87% decrease since 2020. An estimated 10,000 fewer abortions were provided over 18 months post-Dobbs.
• 9 in 10 Women Forced to Travel Out of State in 2023: Prior to the Dobbs decision, only 16%, or one in six, of Wisconsin abortion patients received out-of-state care. In 2023, that number was up to 88%, meaning that nine out of ten patients had to seek out-of-state care. Wisconsinites have traveled to Illinois for care from all 72 counties.
• Women Faced Long Drive Times for Care: Before Roe fell, Wisconsinites traveled an average of 52 minutes to access abortion care. After the decision, that average nearly doubled to 103 minutes in September 2022.
• Limited Availability and Unnecessary Obstacles Persist: Currently, women in the Badger State live under a 20-week abortion ban, and health care providers who do not comply risk felony charges and civil liabilities. Abortion care is not available in 69 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties. Additionally, Wisconsin law forces women to undergo a medically unnecessary 24-hour waiting period and ultrasound before getting abortion care. The latest data shows clinics are providing about 38% less of their pre-Dobbs abortion care volume.
• Maternal Care Deserts Continue to Worsen: Women in 19 counties in Wisconsin do not have full access to maternity care, and 11 counties in the state are a total maternity care desert. Moreover, 11 rural hospitals stopped obstetric services between 2009 and 2018, and at least another eight have stopped providing obstetric care in the last five years.

Senator Baldwin continues to lead the charge to restore women’s reproductive freedoms, championing several key initiatives that will make care more accessible for Wisconsin women and remove medically unnecessary restrictions that restrict a women’s right to make her own health care decisions:

• Senator Baldwin leads the Women’s Health Protection Act, legislation to guarantee access to abortion, everywhere across the country and restore the right to comprehensive reproductive health care for millions of Americans.
• Senator Baldwin’s Reproductive Health Travel Fund Act would provide women the support they need to access reproductive health services by providing grants to organizations, including abortion funds, to offset the cost of travel-related expenses.
• Senator Baldwin’s Reproductive Health Care Training Act would ensure that health care professionals can get the training and education they need to meet Americans’ dire reproductive health care needs.
• Senator Baldwin also cosponsors the Let Doctors Provide Reproductive Health Care Act, which would protect abortion providers in states where abortion remains legal from Republicans’ attempts to restrict their practice and create uncertainty about their legal liability. 
• The Right to IVF Act, cosponsored by Senator Baldwin, would protect access to fertility treatments, including in-vitro fertilization.
• The Right to Contraception Act, also cosponsored by Senator Baldwin, would put into law Americans’ access to contraception.

A full version of the report is available here.

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